“Look, what kind of life are we leading? What kind of life are other people living? Those girls and boys from wealthy families can eat at Jin Jiang Restaurant every day. I want to do that too.”
Gu Ruoqing had been at the capital for some time and had seen unattainable wealth.
Few expensive places existed in the past. Even in the department stores, many items were limited and one needed coupons to buy them.
Things were different now. Society had progressed and resources had grown more abundant. Many restaurants and small shops had sprung up. The rich-poor divide had grown larger. Now, one could spend at any expensive place as long as one had the money. It was such a wonderful feeling.
Gu Ruoqing could not bear to wait any longer.
Especially when they went to Jin Jiang Restaurant today. She saw so many people eating and drinking. She had seen many kinds of food on the menu that she had not even heard about. The price of a single dish was more than many people’s monthly salary…
Heavens!
There were even people who ate such expensive food daily. She had observed the restaurant for a long time. It was crowded every day. These people must be so rich!
“Mother, I can’t wait any longer. I want to live like a wealthy person now. I don’t care. If you don’t tell me and don’t give me some money immediately, I’ll look for a way out myself. I doubt you can survive without me.”
Zhang Xiaohui paused. “You… what are you planning? How much money can you earn? You…”
“What do you mean how much money can I earn?” Gu Ruoqing roared. “Don’t forget that I earned most of the money that you spent on the way here. We’ve been on our own for ten years. How did we survive for ten years?”
“Do you think men will fancy a middle-aged woman like you? Isn’t it because I am young and pretty? I’ve been supporting you all these years. Without me, you’d be nothing.”
Gu Ruoqing was fuming. As she ranted, she increasingly felt that she was in the right. She continued, “So many rich people come and go in the Jin Jiang Restaurant every day. If I just get to know one, I can live a wealthy life. Don’t you think so? All right! I’ll go and find a rich man. When you find your friend and she’s richer than the man I’ll find, I’ll look for you.”
Zhang Xiaohui was shocked. She immediately grabbed her. “No, you’re not allowed to look for someone like that. In the past, we were in a strange place, and no one knew us. No one knows about our past. When I find my friend, you will immediately become a wealthy young lady. Then you can marry any rich boy.
“Also, you must not do such things again. If people find out in the future, they will mock my friend. Be a good girl and stay home. I promise that soon…”
“Let me go.” Gu Ruoqing angrily flung Zhang Xiaohui’s hand aside. “Why should I listen to you? I’ve listened to you for so many years, and nothing good has come of it!
“Now you think I’m an embarrassment? You’re even more embarrassing. No matter what I’ve done, haven’t you done the same?
“When we were with the Gu family, you insisted on marrying Wang Guozhu and said that he would give us a good life. What happened in the end? I did not have a single, pleasant day after I left the Gu family. Later on, you said that we will have a good life when we reach the capital. What happened? It took us ten whole years to reach the capital. How much have I suffered over the past ten years?”
